How to Say “You” in French

Ways to say it

The word "you" functions as a subject pronoun to address the person being spoken to. In French, you must choose between tu and vous based on the social context and whether you are addressing one person or many.

Which one should you use?

The forms differ based on both social status and number. tu is used exclusively for a single person in an informal context. In contrast, vous is used for a single person in a formal context and it is also the only form used when addressing a group of people (plural), regardless of how close you are to them.

Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?

tu is the familiar form used in casual or informal situations when addressing a single person. vous is the polite and formal form used to address someone older, someone in authority or someone you have just met.

Related words

The individual or group spoken/written to (det): tu, vous.

To address using the more formal second-person pronoun (verb): vouvoyer, voussoyer.

How does it change in a sentence?

The verb vouvoyer means to address someone using the formal vous, while the verb tutoyer means to address someone using the informal tu.

How do you pronounce it?

/ty/

What mistakes should you avoid?

English speakers often forget that vous is the only form used for "you plural". Even if you are speaking to a group composed of close friends, you must use vous.

When do people say it?

The choice between these pronouns carries social weight. The act of tutoyer someone implies a level of familiarity or closeness, whereas the act of vouvoyer someone is used to show respect or maintain professional distance.